Be it known that I, FRANK H. BALL, a citizen 'of the United States, residing at Plainfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Steam-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to steam-engines; and it consists in certain improvements in the construction thereof, as will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

The object of the invention is to simplify the steam-chest construction, and while the invention broadly may be adapted to single-cylinder engines it is especially adapted for use in connection with compound engines, particularly of the duplex type.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as follows:

Figure 1 shows a section on the line 1 1 in Fig. 3. Fig. 2 shows a section on the line 2 2 in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 shows a section on the line 3 3 in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the sleeve forming the valve-seat; Fig. 5, a section on the line 5 5 in Fig. 4.

A marks the high-pressure cylinder; B, the low-pressure cylinder; C, the steam-chest, which in the construction shown forms a receiver between the high and low pressure cylinder. The steam enters at D, passes to the inlet-passage D. The valve F for the highpressure cylinder is preferably cylindrically shaped and formed in two parts connected by the rod 7. This valve is arranged to work in the sleeve F, forming the seat for the valve. The sleeve has the ports a a at the .side toward the cylinder, and these ports register with the ports a a, leading to the high-pressure cylinder. It is also provided with the port d, which registers with the port (Z, leading to the steam-passage D. Opposite the ports a a and cl are the cavities a a and (Z for affecting the balancing pressure on the valve. The sleeve F is clamped in position by a clamp-plate This is secured by the bolts F The ports I) lead to the low-pressure cylinder. The valves G G control these ports and are preferably larger than the valves F F. They operate in the cylindrical portion 0 of the steam-chest, into which the ports 7) enter. The valve G is preferably formed integrally with its companion valve F. The exhaustpassage passes from the cylindrical portion G to the exhaust-passage E. Valve-stem H is arranged for operating the valve in the usual manner.

The steam entering at D, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, passes by the ports (Z (Z, sleeve F, ports a a to the high-pressure cylinder. The other end of the high-pressure cylinder is exhausting through the ports (a a, sleeve F to the steam chest or receiver C. From the steam-chest C it is passing to the low-pressure cylinder at the end corresponding to that of the high-pressure cylinder taking steam and from the low-pressure cylinder at the other end of the exhaust-passage E.

It will be noted that the introduction of the sleeve F for forming the working surface or chest for the high-pressure valves permits of an arrangement whereby the ports a in the main casting open directly into the steamchest C. This very much simplifies the manufacture of the steam-chest, especially the casting of it. The sleeve may be readily removed and replaced when desired. Where two sizes are used for the valve, as shown, the steamchest may be bored with a uniform diameter and the smaller size for the high-pressure valve accomplished by the insertion of the sleeve F. Further, where the sleeve has in it some of the ports which must have a fixed relation to other ports arranged in the casting the sleeve permits of a certain amount of adjustment, so as to bring its ports the proper distance from the fixed ports.

What I claim as new is-- 1. In a steam-engine, the combination with a steam-chest having the ports a (Z a and a seat for a sleeve-bushing adjacent to said ports, the sleevebushing F arranged in said seat and having the ports a (Z a arranged therein and in register with the ports a (Z a; and a valve-seat within (the bushing; and a clamp-plate F for securing the sleeve-bushing in the seat in the chest.

2. In a compound steam-engine the combination with the high and low pressure cylinders of the steam-chest having ports leading 3. In a compound steam-engine, the combination'of a steam-chest having ports leading therefrom to the high and low pressure cylinders, one of said ports being integral With the steam-chest; asleeve arranged over others of said ports, said sleeve having ports in register with the port over which it is arranged and said sleeve being adjustable relatively to the ports formed integrally with the steamchest; and means for securing the sleeve as adjusted.

4. In a compound steam-engine, the combination of a steam-chest having ports leading therefrom to the high and low pressure cylinders, one of said ports being integral with the steam-chest; a sleeve arranged over the other of said ports, said sleeve having ports in register with the ports over Which it is arranged and said sleeve being adjustable relatively to theports formed integrally with the steam-chest; and the clamp-plate F arranged in the steam-chest for securing the sleeve.

5. In a compound steam-engine, the combination with the steam-chest C having the highpressure ports a a and low-pressure ports Z) 6, said steam chest having a bore extending through it-of uniform diameter the part of the bore adjacent to the ports 6 I) forming a lo\ pressure valve-seat; the sleeve F arranged over the ports a at having the ports a a in register with the ports a (a; the inner surface of said sleeve forming a valve-seat of smaller diameter than the bore of the steam-chest and the outer surface of said sleeve being of a diameter to fit the bore of the steam-chest and the clamp-plate F for securing the sleeve in place.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of tWo subscribing witnesses.